Research from the University of Amsterdam and Heinrich-Heine University reveals far-right extremists exploit TikTok's audio features to propagate hate speech. Over 75% of extremist audio clips remain accessible for months. The researchers tracked familiar tunes linked to Nazi ideology, exposing trends where popular memes disguise brutal and racist messages. Their findings indicate a significant challenge for TikTok, as 86% of videos with hate content remain after detection, demonstrating an ongoing struggle with moderation of audio-driven hate material.
Over three-quarters of videos using extremist audio were still accessible four months after they were first captured, indicating TikTok's moderation struggles with audio-driven hate content.
The project began when a familiar synth-pop loop transported Bösch 'straight back to the 1990s,' revealing a concerning connection between nostalgic music and extremist ideologies.
The researchers found trending memes masked brutal, racist, misogynist, and death fantasy lyrics, highlighting the insidious nature of hate content hidden within seemingly harmless TikTok trends.
The goal of many extremist creators is to lead users toward off-platform content intended to indoctrinate them into Nazi ideology, showcasing the dangerous influence present on social media.
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